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 Replies: 13 / Views: 4,089 |
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New Member
United States
3 Posts |
This has been bothering me for a while. As a youngster in the sixties, I purchased a few proof sets (50s and 60s). For some reason I remember that they arrived in the mail with the envelope unsealed so one could inspect the contents of said proof set. On ebay, there is a plethora of so called sealed, never opened proofs available for sale. Is this a true statement a little lie to enhance the bids? Any info would be appreciated Thank you As a side note, back then, I foolishly removed all my 50s sets to put them in plastic cases. |
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Rest in Peace
United States
10625 Posts |
The way I understand it is the envelopes were unsealed by the mint and if there are sealed envelopes nowadays it is because humidity caused them to seal or worse yet, they were intentionally sealed. The only way a 50's or early 60's proof set could be considered sealed and unsearched is if they were a bulk purchase and the sipping box is un opened. (I think). and  to CCF! |
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Moderator
 United States
23522 Posts |
Welcome to Coin Community, John. You're reading it correctly - ebay sellers either don't know better (true in some cases) or are perpetuating a lie to add value with those who themselves don't know better. Either way, the Mint didn't seal them. I've never actually managed to buy a sealed one, which is where my belief comes from. If some are unsealed and pristine - as they would be - anything else has to be postmint. |
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New Member
 United States
3 Posts |
dave700x
Thanks for the quick reply. That is what I thought.
Thank you
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Valued Member
United States
374 Posts |
All that said... I have found some cool varieties in sealed envelopes...
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Moderator
United States
23522 Posts |
And it would be a misstatement to blame all the sealed ones on deliberacy. Probably not even a majority. After all, these things sit in storage for decades in varying humidity. On a regular basis I'm sore tempted to play the lottery with a sealed one myself.  |
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New Member
United States
3 Posts |
I did not mean to imply every 'sealed, unopened' set was done for nefarious or for pure marketing reasons. I understand that humidity and other environmental changes can cause the adhesive to seal. I still have many sets unsealed that are over fifty years. I have also purchased a few sealed sets just for a lark (from reputable dealers), but have not opened them. Let my kids find out what is in them.
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Moderator
United States
23522 Posts |
Quote:
I did not mean to imply every 'sealed, unopened' set was done for nefarious or for pure marketing reasons. Not at all; I don't think anyone took it that way. Frankly, though, my math probably doesn't work regarding those proportions on ebay. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7375 Posts |
I have had several conversations with one of the premier seller of proof and mint sets on ebay. I bought a couple of proof sets from him and I even enlightened him on one fact about the 6 different envelopes the 1957 proof sets came in. Anyway, I digress...he said emphatically that the PROOF SETS DID come sealed from the mint, but that MINT SETS DID NOT come sealed, but might have become sealed in some cases over the years. I know there are lots of different opinions on this, but this guy knows his stuff, and has seen enough of them to know. I believe him anyway  The seller is neon65. |
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21786 Posts |
It remains: If the mint did not seal those sets, they should be still unsealed. What is important is the condition of the coins.[i] IF[/i] they remain in pristine condition, it matters little if they have been handled or not, because there is now way of knowing.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
595 Posts |
An interesting question. In my family collection I have a reasonable stock of 1950's proof sets that have been in the collection since new and sat untouched in long-term storage since the early 1960's. Most of the sets remain sealed. The ones that are open were opened by slitting the top of the envelope. If they were unsealed when new, but sealed themselves during storage, they would all be sealed now and none would have been opened (back in the 1950's) by slitting the top. So, I think that they were sealed when new. Going back into the early and mid-1950's, the proof sets came in a small box. These were certainly sealed - I think taped in two directions for early ones and one direction in later years. These were absolutely sealed when new. I have one old mint set that I have not looked at for a while. I will take a look at the envelope and see what I can see.
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Moderator
United States
23522 Posts |
Quote:
he said emphatically that the PROOF SETS DID come sealed from the mint, but that MINT SETS DID NOT come sealed, but might have become sealed in some cases over the years. I know there are lots of different opinions on this, but this guy knows his stuff, and has seen enough of them to know. I'm always willing to believe a better man who disagrees with me. It's possible (probable) that I conflated Mint Sets with Proof Sets. |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
17884 Posts |
The only time the mint sealed the sets was if you bought just a single set. They would seal it, address it, apply postage and mail the envelope of coins to you.
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Valued Member
United States
452 Posts |
I imagine the better coins come from open envelopes, that weren't sent through the mail. I think they started using those mail sorting machines in the 50s.
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Replies: 13 / Views: 4,089 |
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Posted 04/20/2015 5:05 pm
